Russell Howard

Review: Russell Howard's Good News

"Know thy lot, Know thine enemies, Know thyself." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

With this in mind, I bid you all take a good long look at the bottom of this review where you should find a photograph of one Mr. Danny Cohen. If you ever see this man in the street, walk up to him. Say nothing. Then punch him squarely in the face. Nothing else.

Russell Howard's Good News. Is he? Good news, I mean. Stand-up comedian Russell Howard is best-known as a regular on satirical panel show Mock The Week, and has proven himself a likeable enough panellist. But he's not a particularly extraordinary talent in my eyes. His comedy sticks to exaggerated anecdotes aimed at students - the kind of stuff a witty 19-year-old friend would come up with in the pub and could themselves work-up into a five-minute set if they were so inclined. Maybe that's Howard appeal to student-kind; he's walking proof that a middle-class lad from the countryside can make a living telling forgettable jokes with enthusiasm and cheekiness.

Russell Howard's Good News is his first solo project; another satirical show revolving around the week's news, which is part stand-up and part clip-show. As such, half its success can be attributed to the team of researchers who scour the airwaves for funny moments that Howard just has to provide a feed to. Imagine Russell Brand's Ponderland if the topics were all related to current affairs and the clips came exclusively from contemporary news. The show also likes to dramatise a few of Howard's punchlines, killing the gag in the process because we don't need to see a mouse being ejaculated on by a scientist, thank you very much. The joke worked much better in my imagination. Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle was also guilty of this, so hopefully it's not becoming a trend.

Was the show any good? Well, it wasn't bad. In fact, I rather enjoyed the first 15-minutes or so, but then the format started to drag its heels and it lost all momentum when a "mystery guest" (a cackling, tattooed pensioner) was wheeled on to be ridiculed. From there, it limped to the finish. Afterwards, I couldn't remember a single joke Howard had made and didn't feel informed about politics through a comedy prism (a la The Daily Show). You know the funny clips on Have I Got News For You, and how you can't remember any of them after the credits roll? This is half an hour of that level of comedy; good for a few giggles at the time, instantly forgotten afterwards - much like Howard's stand-up.

Mock the Week star and comedian Russell Howard returns with a new show. Just look at that impish grin and cheerily goofy mug - there's no way that's a face to impart grim economic updates or news of brutal violence during major civil unrest. Therefore, it makes complete sense for Russell Howard off Mock the Week to report on stories that won't have you reaching for a Joy Division CD and a tin of black paint to decorate the walls, as he does in this sparky new show.

Good to see Russell Howard, the agreeably warm foil to Frankie Boyle's savage humour on Mock The Week and an excellent stand-up in his own right, has earned his own show. As with Mock The Week, he'll be riffing off the week's news - and since he's a Bright Young Thing, they'll be accompanying blogs and tweets and whatever else.

Russell Howard on Mock the Week and ridiculous news

The comedian on favourite films, silly stories and other Russells.

Russell Howard's Good News

Fans of his regular appearances on Mock The Week and anyone nostalgic for his old show on 6 Music will be delighted to see that Russell will be fronting a new topical comedy series on BBC Three called Russell Howard's Good News.

Say hello to a new batch of TV's most reliably funny and likeable panel show. Tonight's posers include whether stand-up Russell Howard used to wear underpants on his head as an anti-acne gambit and whether EastEnders star Larry Lamb once ran a market stall that sold hats for dogs. In case you're thinking that both things are clearly absurd, bear in mind that everything on the show is clearly absurd and could never have happened - yet some of it did. This series, Angus Deayton has given way to Rob Brydon as host, but the show's beating heart remains David Mitchell. He rules it as his domain; the others just make up the numbers. Tonight, Mitchell voices firm views on castles, crying and working at McDonald's.

Poor Angus Deayton has been dropped again. Rob Brydon steps into his shoes and very good he is too (much better than AD, who treated it as if he had somehow turned back time and was on the set of HIGNFY). Also good are the team captains: David Mitchell's natural habitat is the panel show and Lee Mack is naturally funny. Tonight's guests are Jo Brand and Russell Howard, providing back-up laughs, and Carol 'whaat now?' Vorderman and Larry 'do something about your son' Lamb are the straight men. It's never hilarious but it's always funny and less annoying than Mock The Week, so everyone should be glad to see it back.

Other than the editor and owners of The Daily Telegraph, the only folk actively praying for the expenses ballyhoo to continue are Dara O'Briain, Russell Howard, Frankie Boyle, Hugh Dennis and that bloke who looks like Matt Lucas' character out of Krod Mandoon (Andy Parsons). Let's hope they make the most of it as guests Frank Skinner and Gina Yashere join the teams.

Anyone whose day involves extreme surfing in the freezing water and 60ft waves off the rocky coastline of County Clare could probably do with a little warming up. Cue Russell Howard, whose boyish enthusiasm and sizzlingly funny sets are usually hard to resist... but can he win over these adrenalin junkies?